Nadia Lee Cohen Revitalizes the Korg Funk 5, a Creation of Aphex Twin
In a unique fusion of art and music, Nadia Lee Cohen has collaborated with electronic music legend Aphex Twin to create a visually stunning video for the track "Korg Funk 5." The video, released today on Instagram, deviates from the song's original tech-focused release, offering a fresh take on the intersection of fashion, film, and electronic music's underground roots.
Cohen, a renowned photographer and filmmaker, is known for her retro, cinematic aesthetic rooted in American pop culture and subcultures. Her approach in the video for "Korg Funk 5" draws heavily from her background in fashion editorials, creating a stylized, surreal visual narrative that complements Aphex Twin's interest in sound textures.
The video features Cohen herself in multiple scenes reminiscent of her signature fashion photography style, blending hyperrealism with elements of camp, nostalgia, and underground culture. It also includes a cameo from JT of City Girls, linking contemporary hip-hop culture with electronic music’s experimental tradition.
The track's sonic base, Aphex Twin's playful, synth-driven "Korg Funk 5," was created using Korg synth gear. This emphasizes the experimental, underground ethos of electronic music, including quirky melodies, microtuning, and a personal vocal sample from the artist’s son. The track's origin, rooted in techno-synth culture and its collaborations with synth designer Tatsuya Takahashi, underlines the foundational role of hardware synthesis in electronic music’s underground.
In an interview with Korg engineer Tatsuya Takahashi, Aphex Twin expressed a preference for "fucked-muffled/lo-bit/'70s sound." This preference is reflected in the video's lo-fi, home-movie feel, which further enhances the immersive audiovisual experience.
It's worth noting that the video for "Korg Funk 5" was not co-directed by Tyler, the Creator, despite Cohen's previous collaborations with the musician. Instead, it was co-directed by Charlie Denis, infusing it with strong filmic visual storytelling and fashion-forward imagery.
The video for "Korg Funk 5" serves as a testament to the power of collaboration between artists from different creative fields. It celebrates the convergence of avant-garde music production and subcultural visual aesthetics promoted by Cohen’s artistry, offering a fresh and captivating take on electronic music.
[1] Warp Records' site: https://www.warp.net/ [2] Interview between Aphex Twin and Korg engineer Tatsuya Takahashi: https://www.warp.net/news/aphex-twin-discusses-korg-synths-part-exclusive-interview [3] Nadia Lee Cohen's collaboration with JT of City Girls: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPG6k6LJJWV/ [4] Nadia Lee Cohen's fashion editorials: https://www.vogue.com/photographer/nadia-lee-cohen [5] Nadia Lee Cohen's collaborations with brands and musicians: https://www.nadialeecohen.com/collaborations
[1] Nadia Lee Cohen's unique collaboration with Aphex Twin on the video for "Korg Funk 5" combines entertainment and music, showcasing Cohen's fashion-influenced visual style and Aphex Twin's experimental sound textures.
[2] The video for "Korg Funk 5" offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of fashion, film, and electronic music's underground roots, creating a captivating audiovisual experience that blends Cohen's cinematic aesthetic with Aphex Twin's musical innovations.
